Colombia
In Colombia, Future Food Together engages the private sector to encourage and provide support for the implementation of SCP principles, with particular focus on sustainable, deforestation-free value chain development, reducing food waste and raising consumer awareness to drive long-term change through building demand for sustainable products.
Our Work
Our work in Colombia started in 2020, and focuses on:
- Building partnerships with global charities like WRAP, to develop two pilot models aimed at reducing food loss and waste for fresh produce in supermarkets and to improve packaging/reduce plastic waste.
- Developing policy recommendations by participating in multi-stakeholder alliances and agreements (for example the Accountability Framework Initiative (AFI) and the Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) and with the local government, to improve national strategies for SCP with a focus on the agri-food sector. Additionally, Future Food Together also provides input to national plans for the reduction of GHG emissions associated with food and land use, while simultaneously working to expand policy commitments (NDCs, SDGs).
- Working with three large corporations such as Èxito Group to support their implementation of zero deforestation commitments, development of conservation agreements for their cattle suppliers and training of staff.
- Raising awareness amongst consumers through a campaign that aims to improve understanding on how food consumption and production patterns can affect ecosystems, the environment and contribute to GHG emissions.
© WWF Colombia
Our Results
Business Collaboration
Future Food Together is focused on supply chain mapping, analyses, and supply risk assessments. A dashboard is being developed to help businesses track their supplies and change their procurement towards sustainability. This way, private sector transformation towards sustainable business practices is supported.
Nutresa and Future Food Together have joined forces under the sustainable sourcing process approach, starting with the palm oil supply chain. Our team is developing tools and methodologies that help reduce pressure on forests, and is engaged in international public-private partnerships to reduce deforestation. Nutresa is the fourth largest food company in Latin America, with different business lines and an important international presence.
With Alquería, we are also working on collaborative goals and campaigns related to sustainable supply chains. Alquería is one of the most important dairy and food production companies in Colombia. In this workstream with Alquería and its suppliers, a new Sustainable Dairy Landscapes proposal is being prepared.
We also work with Èxito Group, the largest retailer in Colombia, to implement zero deforestation commitments for beef and palm oil. The retailer is training its staff in key concepts such as supplier mapping and environmental and social risk analysis. A methodology is being developed for conservation agreements for their cattle suppliers. The joint work also includes support for adoption of the AFI (Accountability Framework Initiative) principles.
© WWF Colombia
Consumer Outreach
Based on an initial consumer survey, a campaign will be launched to improve understanding amongst consumers on how food consumption choices affect the environment, biodiversity, human health and the climate. This will be combined with other complementary efforts by UNEP, the government of Bogotá, UNDP and others, to maximize the campaign’s reach.
Links and materials
Project News
Fruitful Project Workshop in Colombia
In January 2022, Future Food Together could finally hold a project workshop for the project components Paraguay and Colombia. The team members met in Bogotá to jointly discuss the project work so far and to update and share strategies.
Strengthening Farmers Markets in Thailand
In Thailand, farmers markets are on the rise, offering both farmers the possibility to sell their produce at a fair price, and consumers a place to purchase organic vegetables. Farmers markets play a vital role in building and maintaining local and regional food systems. Future Food Together has been strengthening farmers markets in Thailand since 2018.
Looking at Household Food Waste in Colombia
Food loss and waste is one of the manifestations of a failing global food system. Our team in Colombia took a closer look at kitchen trash to understand Colombians’ practices and attitudes towards food waste.